wood (cook) stoves have firebrick?

I checked a book out of the library recently entitled "Woodstove Cookery." It seemed to be saying that the difference between wood cookstoves and coal cookstoves was that the grates are different, to allow for a different type of airflow needed for each kind of fuel. Said that the large holes in the grates intended for a coal fire makes a wood fire burn way too fast, and heats the grate so hot that it will warp and break. Also, it said that coal cookstoves have firebrick, whereas wood cookstoves have none. Is this correct?

Answers

Response to woodstoves have firebrick?

This must be dependant upon your kind of stove. Our woodstove,
husband made it, a knock off of a stove we had seen, is lined on the
bottom with fire brick, these retain the heat. We don't like a grate
in our stove, because this burns the wood to fast and makes our stove
have no coals in which to keep the house warm all night, and enough
coals to start a new fire in the morning. It took alot of tweaking
to get everything just right to heat the whole house with just this
stove, but it works great now, have very few nights in which we get
to hot (something that used to happen alot in the beginning!) I know
nothing about coal! Vicki

Response to woodstoves have firebrick?

We have a Heartland cookstove - the Sweetheart model. It can be used to burn coal or wood, depends on the grate you choose to use. And YES - bottom and sides are lined with fire brick.

We had also had a large wood stove at one time. It was meant for heating, but it had two flat like shelves, and I would cook on it. It too was lined with fire brick.

Two years ago, we bought 3 box woodstoves that are for burning wood only. They did not come with fire brick. They were cheapos. However, the assembly directions said to either line the bottom with firebricks or sand. We used bricks.

Hmmm.....our kitchen cook stove has both in it too. Grates and fire
brick. You have to shake the grates to let the ashes drop down so
you don't get a build up of ashes and smother out your fire. We also
have the same set up with the other wood stove that will burn coal or
wood. Now the best wood stove we have in the basement for heat is
the one my husband put together with a 55 gallon drum. Put sand in
the bottom, check for holes every year though, cut out the door...and
light that fire. It is the most wonderful thing for heat !!! But
you do have to let the fire go out to empty the ashes a few times
during the winter. With these 3 and the old Kalamazoo coal stove
(with grates too) that will burn wood and or coal too, in the parlor
( do people still remember what a parlor is ??, am I spelling it
right?) we're all set for winter. We had a wood stove many years ago
that didn't have a drawer or grates and you had to shut the fire down
and freeze in order to empty the ashes out of it. Not a really great
idea I thought. Once our stoves are on in October they stay on until
April. Good Luck !!